"I admire your works above all other pieces for the theatre. I am in ecstasy each time I hear a new work by you, and I take more interest in them than in my own. In brief, I admire you and I love you.... _You will always remain the one I esteem most amongst all my contemporaries. If you wish to give me an extreme pleasure do write me a few lines. That would give me great satisfaction. Art unites everybody_, how much more true artists, _and perhaps you will consider me also worthy_ of being counted one of this number." (To Cherubini, 1823.) (The words in italics are in French in the original with some defective spelling. This letter to Cherubini was not answered.) ON CRITICISM. "In all that concerns me as an artist, no one has ever heard me say that I pay the least attention to what has been written about me." (To Schott, 1825.) * * * * * "I think with Voltaire that mere fly-stings will not hold back a run-away horse." (1826.) * * * * * "As for these idiots, one can only let them talk. Their prattling will certainly not make anyone immortal, any more than it will raise to immortality any of those whom Apollo has destined for it." (1801.) * * * * * THE NINE SYMPHONIES THE NINE SYMPHONIES SYMPHONY No. 1 in C major, Opus 21. Dedicated to the Baron van Swieten. _Adagio molto--Allegro con brio--Andante cantabile con moto--Minuetto e Trio--Finale._ Although this Symphony was originally performed at the first of the composer's personally-arranged concerts in Vienna, on April 2nd, 1800, the sketches for it extend over the preceding five years. Though the symphony is in the composer's first period style, it does not rank amongst the very finest works of this period. The slow introduction starts on a dominant seventh out of the key. [Music score] The musical quotations are taken from E. Pauer's excellent piano solo arrangements of the Symphonies (Augener Ltd.). The first movement proper is orthodox in form, and only once or twice do we catch a glimpse of the Beethoven to be, notably in the muttering bass passages near the end of the exposition. The _Andante_ which is also in Sonata-form proper and opens fugally, contains some original drum-work. The Minuet, purely Haydnesque, shows a certain delight in orchestral colour. [Music score]